Before I start wrenching on this, I was curious if anyone has previous experience doing it. I assume everything should bolt right up (swaybar, steering rack, etc). Are there any problems I may run in to? Extra parts?

I've always been envious of the extra bracing that the 04+ guys get. I finally got a good price on a crossmember, all I need to do is swap it out.

bolts up fine. same parts your car uses will be used on the new crossmember. -keith

Great.
Have you done it too?

Great.
Have you done it too?
i put a WRX one in my car, the WRX and STi cross members are identical so yes i can say i have done it

mind if i ask what extra bracing you think there is? because this is the first i have heard of it

http://www.shaneff.com/images/cmember.jpg

02-03 crossmembers do not have the 4 outer studs/mount for the brace highlighted above.

i knew it bolts up the same, but i've never done it personally. i just remembered from working on my friends 05 wrx. comparing it to my car and my other friends 02 wrx by memory. i'd like to get a newer on and see if it makes a difference on my 95 swap. --keith

interesting, but rather then swapping an entire cross member i think you'd be better off buying an aftermarket brace, that is unless you don't mind the work ;). It's not hard to do, but you'll have to hang the motor up.

Jeremy

true, too much work. i can have my friend weld a square with a triangle off each side to achieve the same shape. he uses mainly stainless but he does weld aluminum, so it'd be a little lighter and still as stiff. this is a good idea, and could be really cheap to make. anyone interested?? --keith

I'll admit, it's a lot of work for a dinky brace, but, for a guy with access to a lift, it's no biggie. Just my Saturday. I doubt it'll even make any noticable difference. It's just one of those things that make me envious every time I work underneath an 04+.

I wish it was as simple as welding re-enforced material on the old crossmember. The newer ones are really over engineered for some reason. A lot of material will be needed to match it. How about an all aluminum crossmember that weighs 15lbs instead of 35?

I think I've covered most the bracing possible on the front: Do-Luck Subframe, Cowl stays, STB (does that even count??). The crossmember is one more to have.

i got a lift also, it still seems hardly worth it. if a simple bolt on option works as well or better, im gonna do it! but an aluminum crossmember would be awesome!! -keith

Don't be swayed by naysayers. The brace increases longitudinal stiffness by 50%, and lateral stiffness by 500%! That's from a subaru technical document.

do the swap, just like THAWA said the crossmember is considerably stiffer. When you remove yours, compare them side by side, and you'll see the difference......This was an upgrade available on early RA STi's in Japan,....our USDM model has the same upgrade now....

Don't be swayed by naysayers. The brace increases longitudinal stiffness by 50%, and lateral stiffness by 500%! That's from a subaru technical document.
do you have a copy of that document? not trying to be a naysayer but i'd like some cold hard numbers. that just seems like a HELL of an increase for just that small brace. Usually stiffness numbers like that are made by strenghting control arms, knuckles, and strut towers. You have to rember that these parts are designed to break in the event of an accident.

I'd be very interested to read that article.

I don't remember where I got the document from, but it's for a 2002 B4. The Impreza uses the same crossmember, and took the same bracing from the B4. Although, I suppose the two chassis are different. Maybe the brace doesn't increase as much, or maybe it increases it more. Either way, I wouldn't be so suprised by the increase in stiffness, look where the brace is, right between the control arms.

i guess my only question is why haven't people seen similar increases with braces mounted to the same areas. I'm actually really interested in this, if it works it works and if you have the parts then hell, why not throw them in ;)

Jeremy

im definately doing the custom version if its that kind of upgrade. 500% is huge! that may be model specific or something, so it may not be as large on an L. a B4 is larger and would benefit from more chassis bracing. moreso than an L would. since they share most basic parts i would think the legacy is mushy feeling with a stock L crossmember and such. but this upgrade could be a huge improvement for an older L. newer wrx's have different chassis and bracing, so it may not be as needed there, where on an L you'll have tons of support. add fender braces, STB, sways, and im gonna feel pebbels in the road!! -keith

Legacy's aren't mushy. The 99 b4 was quite stiff already, the 02 was even stiffer. The older the chassis the softer it is, generally speaking. Also, the difference in size between a Legacy and an Impreza is minimal when you really look at it. At least in the areas where the brace is being positioned.

i was thinking of the fact they share the same brace and the legacy being bigger and heavier would contribute to mushier handling characteristics. i've never driven a newer legacy, just an older postal wagon ;) it felt like a turd seriously! -keith

For MY02 WRX Wagon fits even,
05 STI complete Eng. crossmember with steering rack!!
Just different lower control arms
Mike